“Can you go to the toilet? Why didn’t you go at break? You just had twenty minutes when you could have gone before class, for heaven’s sake. I want to start the lesson now and you want to leave the class, while the rest of the students in here have already completed the first task. Err…excuse me, why are you speaking? I’m a little confused. Just because I’m talking to somebody doesn’t give you an excuse. And why are you still in your trainers? You need to put on your shoes. Right! Johnny, you’re on a warn. If I speak to you again, you’ll have to move.”

These are lyrics from my TikTok: ‘The Teacher’s Anthem. It facetiously details the experience of many educators (and students) across the world and has been viewed 11.5 million times. It serves as a reminder to me that social media is a powerful tool in connecting others to ideas, especially young people. In this talk, I showcase some of the ways I have used the Arts and social media to connect my students to timeless concepts in English Literature and enrich their educational experience.